Urban Meyer makes bold prediction on Texas, Kansas State game
Urban Meyer made some bold declarations on the state of the current Big 12 just before what he deems a massive matchup in the league title race between Texas and Kansas State.
With five teams currently tied atop the Big 12 standings at 4-1 in league play, Meyer loves the depth of the league this year, and just before many teams are realigned. He even pointed out that the two conferences set to undergo the biggest changes, the Big 12 and Pac-12, are the two leagues he believes are the strongest this season.
“Big 12 conference, it’s getting broken up a little bit. I think they’re either the best or second-best conference in college football. Think about that. Big 12 breaking up, Pac-12 breaking up,” he commented.
Moving on, when it comes to the Big 12 championship this year, Meyer has today’s Texas vs. Kansas State game circled as a contest that will ultimately decide who wins the league.
“Who’s going to win the Big 12? This is how big this game is. Who wins this game today will win the Big 12 championship,” he commented live from Austin ahead of the Texas-Kansas State game.
Some pretty massive stakes for the Longhorns and Wildcats today, per Urban Meyer.
Rece Davis likes Texas over Kansas State
No. 23 Kansas State at No. 7 Texas is one of the juicier matchups on this weekend’s slate and one of the biggest games for the season in the Big 12. That’s why Rece Davis had to break it down and, in the end, make a pick for a winner outright and against the spread.
Davis shared his pick during the ‘College GameDay Podcast’ on Thursday. Like many coming into this game, he started by giving a lot of love to K-State for their recent 4-1 stretch, specifically their last two wins, in order to recover in the conference. He also noted one statistic or scenario that could play into the Wildcats’ favor in Austin on Saturday.
“How about the resurgence of the Kansas State Wildcats? Sort of given up after winning the Big 12 last year. This year? Lost a couple of games early, only one of them in conference. Now, there’s a five-way tie atop the Big 12. And Kansas State, what do you know, is right in the middle of it,” Davis said.
“The week after Houston played Texas to a touchdown game? You don’t want to overreact but Kansas State beat them 41-0. They haven’t given up a touchdown in their last two games,” Davis pointed out. “They have a Top-25 rush defense. With Texas? We assume, again, playing Maalik Murphy at quarterback? Might be a little bit more reliant on the running game, which has been very good for them.”
However, for all that respect for the purple, Davis then leaned back to the burnt orange at home. No matter how good the Wildcats have been as of late and in the past five seasons, he couldn’t ignore their record against Texas, especially since they will play this game inside DKR Memorial.
“The one thing I will say is that for all of the things that Kansas State has accomplished under Chris Klieman? They’re o-fer against Texas,” said Davis. “And, in fact, pre-dating him? They haven’t beaten them since 2016. That’s six straight wins for the ‘Horns.”